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But testing of more basic technology is already underway right here in Australia.

The state government is at work developing driverless shuttles. ()The shuttles stop automatically if somebody steps in front of them. ()

In November 2015, Volvo tested cars that could steer themselves on a closed freeway in Adelaide.

Today Volvo’s National Technical Manager David Pickett told A Current Affair the company's current goal is simple.

"We have a vision in 2020 where we state that no one should be injured or killed in a Volvo," he said.

A Current Affair was given the opportunity to test drive the XC60, Volvo's most advanced car on the market.

A Current Affair reporter Alison Piotrowski test-drives the driverless Volvo, with only light pressure on the wheel for legal reasons. ()

The car can steer itself on well-marked highways, as well as brake for the driver. "

It's fitted with adaptive cruise control, which will break and accelerate without any inputs," Mr Pickett said.

The XC60 is what’s known as a Level 2 autonomous car.

The highly-advanced Volvo XC60. ()

Volvo is focusing on perfecting a Level 4 autonomous vehicle - allowing drivers to free up time on freeways – but insists safety is first and foremost.

And as companies race to get their driverless vehicles on the road, safety is where some have hit major hurdles.

A self-driving bus crashed on its first official day on the roads in Las Vegas, while earlier this year a Tesla car driving itself in Florida crashed and killed the 40-year-old in the driver’s seat.

However, Professor Waller said most accidents in autonomous test cases have been caused by human error interacting with the vehicle.

A self-driving Tesla car crashed in Florida, killing the 40-year-old in the driver's seat. ()

But for others heavily involved in critiquing the industry, we’re a long way off letting our car take the reins.

The National Motoring Editor for News Corp, Joshua Dowling, has his doubts.

"We are still not ready yet. We are years if not decades away from the truly autonomous car," he said.

Dowling said the technology needed work, but did concede that by 2020 we’re like to see "on ramp to off ramp" technology, where you may be able to drive large sections of a freeway with your hands off the wheel.